Company Formation · Dubai E-Trader Licence

Get your Dubai e-Trader licence. Sorted in days, not weeks.

Sell online legally from home, no office, no Ejari, no company setup. Auxilium handles your application end to end, from AED 1,070 in government fees.

Start my application Check my eligibility
From AED 1,070in government fees
Issued in daysfully digital process
No office neededtrade from home
Matthew Weeks, Director of Growth at Auxilium
Matthew Weeks, Director of Growth at Auxilium · 15+ years in GCC employment solutions. LinkedIn →
Reviewed July 2026
What is it

The lowest-cost way to trade legally in Dubai.

The e-Trader licence is issued by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). It lets individuals sell products or services online, through Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, a website, or marketplaces, without renting an office or forming a company.

If you're selling online without a licence, you're exposed. Fines, blocked accounts, frozen payments. The e-Trader licence fixes that for less than the cost of a nice dinner out each month.

Built for one-person businesses
Social sellers

Sell where your audience is

Fashion, cosmetics, handmade goods, home baking, sold through Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, legally.

Freelancers & consultants

Put a licence behind your practice

Design, coaching, tutoring, marketing and content, with a registered trade name clients can trust.

Side hustlers

Test the idea properly

Validate your business before committing to a full company setup, and upgrade later without starting from scratch.

One thing to know upfront: eligibility depends on your nationality. UAE and GCC nationals can trade both products and services. Expat residents are generally limited to professional services (consulting, design, digital work) and eligibility is confirmed case by case with DET. Not sure where you stand? We'll tell you straight before you pay a dirham.

Know exactly what you're buying
The licence covers

Legal online trade, from home

  • Legal online sales across Dubai
  • Home-based operation, no office or tenancy contract needed
  • A registered trade name customers can trust
  • Fully digital application through the Invest in Dubai portal
The licence doesn't cover

Know the limits before you buy

  • Visa sponsorship (yours or anyone else's)
  • Hiring employees
  • Opening a physical shop

Outgrowing these limits? That's a good problem. We'll move you to a mainland or free zone licence when you're ready, no starting from scratch.

How it works

Four steps. We do three of them

Tell us what you sell

A 10-minute call or WhatsApp. We confirm your eligibility and the right activity code.

We prepare your application

Trade name reservation, documents, portal submission. You send us your Emirates ID; we handle the rest.

Pay the government fees

Directly and transparently.

Licence issued digitally

Typically within days. Start selling legally.

Why not just apply yourself?

You can. But rejections usually come down to two avoidable mistakes.

Activity mismatches and documentation errors are the top reasons applications get rejected, and eligibility rules for expats aren't always clear on the portal.

We've been setting up compliant workforces across all six GCC countries for years. We know which activity codes fit your business, what DET actually requires, and when an e-Trader licence isn't the right move for you. If a freelance permit or free zone licence serves you better, we'll say so.

Common questions

What sellers ask before applying.

How much does the e-Trader licence cost?
Government fees start from AED 1,070, paid directly and transparently. Auxilium handles the application end to end.
Can expat residents get an e-Trader licence?
Generally yes for professional services such as consulting, design and digital work. Product trading is open to UAE and GCC nationals, and expat eligibility is confirmed case by case with DET. We confirm where you stand before you pay anything.
Does it include a visa or let me hire staff?
No. The e-Trader licence doesn't cover visa sponsorship, hiring employees or opening a physical shop. If you need those, we'll move you to a mainland or free zone licence when you're ready.
How fast is the licence issued?
The application is fully digital through the Invest in Dubai portal and the licence is typically issued within days.

Start selling legally this week.

Tell us what you sell and we'll confirm your eligibility, the right activity code and the exact cost, before you pay a dirham.

Start my application Ask a question first
Related: UAE Golden Visa · UAE Company Formation